A Pennsylvania attorney has been indicted for alleged title insurance fraud.
The U.S. attorney's office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania indicted Susan Kevra-Shiner with seven counts of mail fraud relating to a title company she owned known as GK Abstract Co.
Kevra-Shiner has been a licensed attorney in Pennsylvania for 20 years handling real estate transactions. Starting in 2003, she reached an agreement with Stewart Title Guaranty Co. to issue title insurance policies. But Stewart terminated its agency agreement with Kevra-Shiner in September 2008, U.S. Attorney Peter Smith said in a press release.
However, the indictment claims that Kevra-Shiner continued to issue title insurance policies to her clients even though she was no longer working for Stewart. The indictment alleges that Kevra-Shiner defrauded approximately 76 homeowners of $72,000 in title insurance premiums.
If convicted of the charges, Kevra-Shiner faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, $250,000 in fines on each count, and restitution to the victims.
In February 2013, the Pennsylvania Office of Disciplinary Counsel suspended Kevra-Shiner's law license for four years as a result of these activities.
